The Budget, The Blame, and the Bullhorn

When Ego Trumps Integrity in Harford County Politics

While most of us were focused on making sure our roads are paved, our schools are funded, and our neighborhoods are safe, Harford County Council President Patrick Vincenti was busy… grandstanding.

In a press release dated July 1, Mr. Vincenti took a taxpayer-funded victory lap over the FY26 budget—but not without taking a few cheap shots at County Executive Bob Cassilly. Let’s be clear: this wasn’t a budget announcement. It was a political hit piece in disguise.

Hey Pat—your press release was dated July 1st, but it read like April 1st. You know… April Fool!

Let’s break down the noise:

🔹 "Reckless Attempts" by Cassilly?
What’s reckless is rewriting the County Executive’s efforts to be fiscally responsible into a narrative of obstruction. Bob Cassilly didn’t “politicize” the budget—he protected it from becoming a blank check for special interests. That’s called leadership.

🔹 Raises Were Given… But Credit Misplaced
Vincenti boasts that all eligible county employees got their raises. Good! That was never in dispute. But let’s not pretend it was the Council who cut the checks. Cassilly made sure funding priorities didn’t come at the cost of Harford’s fiscal future.

🔹 Cherry-Picking the Cuts
Vincenti complains that certain programs weren’t funded—like the State’s Attorney’s Office salary parity or Harford Community College’s asks. What he doesn’t mention is the long list of duplicative spending and fluff the Council tried to sneak in. Cassilly vetoed what didn’t serve taxpayers. That’s governing, not grandstanding.

🔹 Returning Money to the General Fund = Fiscal Responsibility
Vincenti calls it a failure. Taxpayers call it common sense.

Let’s stop pretending this is about budget numbers. It’s about bruised egos. It’s about a Council President who sees a popular County Executive doing his job—and hates that he can’t control the narrative.

Here's the truth: Bob Cassilly has done more with less. He’s tackled crime, held the line on taxes, and brought transparency to a process that used to happen behind closed doors. That’s why the establishment is nervous. That’s why you’re seeing press releases dressed up as progress.

But voters see through it.

In November 2026, it won’t be Patrick Vincenti’s press releases on the ballot.
It’ll be Bob Cassilly’s record.

And that’s a budget the people will happily approve.